Big block in a Plymouth Volare

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Lucky Charms

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I bought a 1980 Plymouth Volare Roadrunner clone car from DCAspen. Super guy to deal with. The car, which was originally a Slant 6, comes with no mother or transmission and a 7-1/4" rear axle. The plan is to install a 383 B-Block with Mopar Stage IV cylinder heads which have raised intake/exhaust ports to use a 440 intake. It will be also receiving a 727 transmission and an 7-3/4" rear axle.
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I have a 400B block in my car. You'll need a narrow diameter booster to clear the valve cover if using power brakes.

Mounts will be hard to find now as Schumacher was sold to US Car Tool. I don't know it USCT has started production of these mounts again.

I never found a set of premade headers that satisfied my requirements and fit. The Schumacher Tri-Y headers looked trick, but once again, out of production and they only had 1 5/8" primary tubes and 2.5" collectors. Ended up having a custom set of shorty SS headers made.

I wondered where that car landed. That is going to be really nice when you're done.
 
I couldn't find mounts, so I have a set of universal mount s from Tin Man to weld in. I am going to try and use the B-Body headers. I have read on other forums that they have been used with a little manipulation. I have a K-car power booster and master cylinder. I will have to modify the power booster to pedal rod as it seems to be a little short.
 
Mancini has listings for the conversion mounts but, they say "out of stock". Since they were Schumacher (I assume) mounts, who knows if or when they'll be available again.

Another possibility is to do what I did, before there was such a thing as Schumacher. I cut the k-frame brackets off my good, rust free 6 cyl k-frame and then the brackets off a V-8 K and welded them to mine and used stock spool mounts that came with the 440 (from a '71 Roadrunner). Swapping K's was the 1st choice but out of the dozens of V-8 k's in the salvage yard, there were NONE that didn't have at least one rust hole. (This was back in the late '80's,,,,,in Wisconsin, btw). Worked then and it's still working to this day. Just an idea. I suppose, trying to find a V-8 K to cut the brackets off in the first place is not very easy nowdays, so it's probably a moot point.:confused:
 
8-3/4" rear axle installed. The axle was out of a 1970 B-Body. Some one had moved the spring pads inboard, so I just ordered a new set of spring pads and set them up for the correct spring width. I picked up a 3.23 sure grip third member. The axle came with an 11" drum brake set up. I bought new spring plates and a set of shocks for a 1970 Dodge Charger. I also install the Mopar updated green bearings to eliminate the axle shaft end play adjuster.

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Nice! Good suggestion is to replace the yoke with a u-bolt style, especially since your engine is going to be "enhanced":D . Much stronger than the straps and grade 10 (or whatever they actually are) valve cover bolts.
 
Removed the Slant 6 mounts from the K member. Ready to mock up the engine and transmission so I can locate and weld in the mounts.

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I fabricate solid mounts and brackets for my Plymouth. I cleared the K frame set the 440 and 727 in place using the stock trans mount then fabricated front mounts.
 
I have the 383 bolted in and the mounts installed. I loosened the transmission mount bolts and slid the transmission as far forward as possible to give me the most firewall and steering linkage clearance. I had to modify the universal mounting kit from Tin Man by cutting up the mount kit and shortening the ears on the mounts. I kept the engine as low as possible to give me space around the power booster. I have to use the taller valve covers due to the aftermarket 1.5 ratio rockers .View attachment 43562 View attachment 43563 View attachment 43564 Clearances are tight, but it fits nice.

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I was thinking the exact same thing, I envy you guys who get so much done so fast. Looking great.

When you've got it done, you should find one of the air cleaner 'pie tins' which say "318-4 BBL", to throw people off the scent. (wink)
 
I have a 400 in my 77. Which headers did you use? I used ones for a E body.
 
It also looks like it is already converted to a K car booster.
 
Lucky Charms said:
I bought a 1980 Plymouth Volare Roadrunner clone car from DCAspen. Super guy to deal with. The car, which was originally a Slant 6, comes with no mother or transmission and a 7-1/4" rear axle. The plan is to install a 383 B-Block with Mopar Stage IV cylinder heads which have raised intake/exhaust ports to use a 440 intake. It will be also receiving a 727 transmission and an 7-3/4" rear axle.
View attachment 43516
Click to expand...
No Mother? Father?
 
Lucky Charms said:
I have the 383 bolted in and the mounts installed. I loosened the transmission mount bolts and slid the transmission as far forward as possible to give me the most firewall and steering linkage clearance. I had to modify the universal mounting kit from Tin Man by cutting up the mount kit and shortening the ears on the mounts. I kept the engine as low as possible to give me space around the power booster. I have to use the taller valve covers due to the aftermarket 1.5 ratio rockers .View attachment 43562 View attachment 43563 View attachment 43564 Clearances are tight, but it fits nice.

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View attachment 43561
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Those look like mopar rockers...
I've got a 440 in my Volare with 2" headers so my problem with the same tube was more severe, I needed to moved the steering column over and got rid of the rag joint.
 
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